plunkett



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. H. W. G. PLUNKETT.

SADDLE.

No. 606,281. Patented June28, 1898.

(No Model!) I 4 SheetsSheet 2.

H. W. G. PLUNKETT.

SADDLE.

No. 606,281. Patented June 28,1898.

THE NORRIS Pzrzns cu. wovournu. WASHINGTON. n. c.

H. W. G. PLUNKETT.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

('No Model.)

SADDLE.

Patent-ed June 28,1898.

' lggnesses (No Mod L) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

H. W. G. PLUNKETT.

SADDLE.

No. 606.281. Patented June 28,1898.

Nrr

rnrns LLSADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,281, dated June 28, 1898. Application filed February 9, 1897. Serial No. 622,653. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY WILLOUGHBY GRATTAN PLUNKETT, a subject of the Queen of England, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Saddles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to saddles'suitable for, though not confined to, cycles, its principal object being the construction of a cushion and a saddle-frame adapted to become mutually engaged to constitute a saddle of light weight having a form which is hygienically advantageous as well as comfortable to the rider.

Another object is the construction of improved means for adjusting and securing the saddle in place upon the machine.

Accordingto this invention the cushion may be formed as an inflatable or'other body-say an inflatable tubeandthe frame with its upper portion of twin wires or flanges, with a channel between them or'as an equivalent channeled structure, with which the tube cushion or cover interlocks. For instance, there may be a bead or beads connected to the cushion or to the cover thereof by webs and engaged at each side by the twin wires of the frame. WVhether the cushion as a whole be inflatable or not, it may have inflatable tubular beads which upon inflation will engage the tree in such a manner as to hold the cushion in place. The cushion is engagedwith the frame by sliding the webs into the channel between the twin wires or the like.

The inflatable portion of the device can be provided with an air-valve through which air may be forced by an air-pump, or a fitted india-rubber air-ball having non-return valves may be used.

All the cushion lies approximately in one plane. The preferred shapein plan is one in which two tubular portions diverge from each other and from a point at the forward end of the saddle and are curved outward at the back to form loops.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a saddle constructed according to this invention, comprising a portion of a seat-pillar and the device by which the saddle is adjusted and secured in place upon it.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the saddle. Fig.

3 is a plan of the saddle-frame with the cush= ion removed. This figure is broken away. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the leading end of the saddle-frame. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the rear end of the saddle-frame, and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are three views of the clip serving for the retention and adjustment of the saddle. Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations at right angles to each other, and Fig. 8 is a plan. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the cushion on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2. Fig; 10 is a perspective view of one of the retainers B, hereinafter referred to. Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the bolt used to secure the saddle-clip to the supporting-post. I

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings. A is the frame, which in the present example is constructed of stout wire as follows, it

being understood that as the saddle and its appurtenances are symmetrical upon both sides of the longitudinal center line a description of the parts at one side of that center line will suffice also for those at the opposite sides:

A is a wire looped at A and A as. seen clearly in side elevation in Fig. 1 and in plan in Fig. 3, so that the ends A and A may possess the elasticity necessary to easy riding. The end A is screw-threaded and supports a tubular retainer B, which is perforated longitudinally to receive the end A of the wire A, upon which it is secured by nuts A A The retainer is also perforated transversely, as at B, to receive the ends of twin wires hereinafter referred to. From the transverse perforations B extend saw-cuts or slots 13, so that when the nuts A A on the ends A of the wire A are tightened up they cause the retainer B to grip the ends of the twin wires therein. The other end A of the wire A is screw-threaded to receive nuts A A, having between them two plates 0 O, which are slightly channeled upon'their vmeeting faces to grip the aforesaid twin wires D D'and thus to hold the two halves or sections ofthe frame together at the forward end, 'atwhich the two halves may or may notice closer together than at the back.

D D are twin wires which, starting from the plates O 0, between which they are gripped, extend to the back of the saddle in parallel indicated in Figs. 3 and and is perforated lines and are curved in the manner indicated in Fig. 3 to form outwardly-extending loops, the back ends of the wires being gripped by the retainer 13. Into the narrow channel left between these wires a portion of the cushion is introduced. To facilitate this introduction, the twin wires are so bent, as at D as to be slightly wider apart in proximity to plates 0 C and retainer B than at other portions of their length.

To prevent the looped back portions of the saddle from being bent downward and to hold the two halves of the frame together, a stiffen ing-plate E, Fig. 5, is provided. It extends from side to side of the saddle in the manner to receive the ends A of the wires A, being retained in place thereon between the nuts A and retainers B.

The outer ends E of the stiffening-plate E engage with and support the twin wiresD D and are cut away, as at E so that there shall be no obstruction below the channel between the wires which would be likely to offer any hindrance to the insertion of the cushion.

F is the cushion.

by a narrow web F between them and air-tube F in its casing F above them, as shown in Fig. 9. of the cushion is a straight tube, becoming curved to the form of the frame G, having the cover F may depend, as shown.

It is preferred that the saddle should have in plan the shape indicated in the drawings, the forward end being formed of divergent portions F with a space F between them to avoid perineal pressure, and the back portion being constituted by loops or portions of ap- 1 proximately annular form, the forward sides F of each annulus being, if desired, straight at right angles to the tubular portions F, as shown.

The device by which the saddle is retained and adjusted upon the seat-pillar will now be described.

The body T H, Fig. 1, is a horizontal member of the seat-pillar.

J is a clip perforated at J, Fig. 6, to receive the portion '11 on the seat-pillar and cut through, as at J so that the sides of the clip may be brought together to grip the part II. From the body of this clip J wings J 3 extend upward and forward, as shown, to support a transverse tube J Holes J Fig. 7, are provided in the wings J to receive a bolt K. The tube J 4 receives a smaller bolt L, Fig. 1. About the bolt K the saddle can receive angular adjustment in the longitudinal central plane of the machine, the bolt L serving to lock the saddlein the position in which it is thus adjusted.

M are plates lying against the outer faces of the wings J and provided with segmentally slotted arms or extensions M. These plates are pivoted upon the bolt K, which passes through them and through the wings J 3 and is provided with a head K, a nut'K and washer K The head K, washer K and plates M are channeled to grip the main wires A at each side of the frame, as shown The example illustrated is tubular, comprising an inner inflatable air- 5 tube F, closed at the ends except fora tubular connection F with an air-ball-inflatingi device G, or the cushion may be fitted with i an inflation-valve, as in a pneumatic tire, adapted to be engaged by the nozzle of a pump. This air-tube is inclosed in a casing F provided with a longitudinal bead F Fig. 1 9, extending along the whole length of thei tubular cushion, with which it is connected" When the cushion is deflated, the bead F can readily be passed l below the twin wires D D in such a manner 3 that the web F lies in the narrow channel I in Fig. 6, the bolt K having a longitudinal central slot K sufficiently wide to enable it to be passed over both these wires A when the bolt is inserted.

K is a small block placed in the end of the slot K near the nut, to prevent thesides of the bolt from being sprung toward each other when the nut is screwed home. Its edges may be screwed to fit the thread in the nut K as best shown in Fig. 11. By rotating the plates M and bolt K about the axis of the latter the saddle can be tilted up or down as required to suit the riders convenience. When it is thus tilted, the slotted arms M move up and down in proximity to the tube J 4 of the clip J. The bolt L passes through the slots to the arms M, as well as through the clip J, and is tightened up to lock those arms to the socket in any of the positions to which they may have moved during the adjustment of the saddle, as described. The bolt K not only serves as a pivot about which the saddle turns, but also when screwed up tight forces the sides of the socket inward, so that the wires A and the portion II of the seat-pillar are firmly gripped. By slackening the nut K the grip of the head K and washer K on the wires A can be lessened to permit them to be adjusted endwise to alter the position of the saddle longitudinally in relation to the clip. This longitudinal adjustment is additional to that which is obtainable by sliding the clip J along the part H of the seat-pillar.

This invention is not limited to the construction illustrated in the drawings, which is given merely by way of example, and may be varied without departure from this invention.

I claim 1. In a saddle, a frame composed of parallel twin wires occupying the same horizontal plane, and bent to conform to the outline of the saddle, and a cushion secured to the frame between said wires, substantially as set forth.

2. In a saddle, a frame Comprising two like sections arranged side by side in the same horizontal plane, each consisting of parallel twin wires, and having a straight body portion and an outwardly-extending loop at the rear, and clamps for securing the sections together, substantially as set forth.

3. In a saddle, a frame comprising two like sections arranged side by side in thesame horizontal plane, each consisting of parallel twin wires and having a straight body portion and an outwardly-extending loop at the rear, the body portions of the sections being separated to provide an intervening space and arranged to diverge toward the rear, a transverse stiffening-plate, and means for securing the sections and stiffening: plate together, substantially as set forth.

4. In a saddle, the combination with a frame comprising parallel twin wires arranged side by side in the same horizontal plane and bent to conform to the outline of the saddle, of an elongated cushion provided with a web having an edge bead and secured in place between said wires, substantially as described.

5. In a saddle, the combination with a frame comprising parallel twin wires arranged side by side in the same horizontal plane, and bent to conform to the outline of the saddle, of an inflatable tubular cushion likewise bent to conform to the outline of the saddle and secured in place between said wires, substantially as described.

6. In asaddle, the combination of the frame comprising two independent separated sections each consisting of parallel twin Wires and having a straight body portion and an outwardly-extending loop at the rear, the said body portions being arranged to diverge toward the rear, means for securing the sections in position, and an elongated cushion secured to the frame between said wires and conforming to the outline of the frame, substantially as set forth.

7. In a saddle, the combination of the frame consisting of two independent sections each having an elongated body portion and an outwardly-extending loop at the rear, supporting-springs, means for securing the adjacent ends of the sections and springs together, a transverse stiffening-plate supported on said springs and engaging the loop portions of said sections, and a cushion, substantially as set forth.

8. In a saddle, the combination of the frame consisting of two independent sections each composed of parallel twin wires and having a straight body portion and an outwardly-extending loop at the rear, springs, means for securing the adjacent ends of said sections and springs together, a transverse stiifening-plate carried by said springs and engaging the under side of said sections, and an elongated cushion conforming to the outline of the frame and secured in place between said twin wires, substantially as set forth.

9. In a saddle, the combination of the wire frame terminating at the rear in outwardlyextending loops, the supporting-springs, and the retainers provided with openings at right angles to each other and adapted to secure the adjacent ends of said loops and together, substantially as set forth.

10. In a saddle,the combination of the frame consisting of two like sections, each composed of parallel twin wires and terminating at the rear in an outwardly-extendin g loop, the supporting-sprin gs, the tubular retainers adapted to receive the rear ends of said springs and provided with transverse slotted openings for the ends of said loops, and means on said springs for tightening said retainers, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with the saddle havin g substantially parallel su pporting-springs, of a clip adapted tobe secured to the saddlepost, a slotted bolt therefor through which said springs pass, segmentally-slotted plates pivoted on said bolt at the sides of the clip and adapted to clamp the springs thereto, and a second bolt passing through the clip and the segmental slots of said plates, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. The combination with the saddle having substantially parallel supporting-sprin gs, of a split clip adapted to be secured to the saddle-post, and provided with wings extending forwardly therefrom, a bolt passing through the body of the clip and slotted to receive said springs, a block fitted to said slot, plates pivoted at their inner ends on said bolt and having segmental slots at their outer ends, and a second bolt passing through said wings and segmental slots, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereto hand in the witnesses.

HARRY WILLOUGHBY GRATTAN PLUNKE'IT,

Witnesses:

HAROLD WADE, HARRY B. BRIDGE.

set my presence of the two subscribing two supportingsprings 

